After spotting prominent red marks on tennis star Ben Shelton, US Open supporters took to social media and commented on the matter. The marks on his arms were visible to spectators as he defeated fellow American Francis Tiafoe in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old was competing in a sleeveless shirt under the spotlight at Arthur Ashe Stadium when his left shoulder and upper arm were encircled in little marks.
Many fans took to Twitter and responded with their views. One fan tweeted: “What are those circles on Ben Shelton’s l arm? A rash? On Ashe?.”
Another wrote: “He had those back in the November Champaign challenger 2022 but thighs.”
A third suggested: “Ben Shelton has been doing cupping on his shoulders and upper arms.”
One of the fans responded: “Oh, cupping’s still a thing? I remember loads of athletes had the marks around the 2016 Olympics but you don’t seem to see it as much now.”
Shelton at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2023
Currently the world no.47, Shelton owns a 19-22 win-loss record in 2023. The American is participating at the U.S. Open where he beat the world no.66 Pedro Cachin 1-6 6-3 6-2 6-4, the world no.81 Dominic Thiem 7-61 1-0 ret., the world no.77 Aslan Karatsev 6-4 3-6 6-2 6-0, the world no.14 Tommy Paul 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-4
and the world no.10 Frances Tiafoe 6-2 3-6 7-67 6-2.Ben Shelton will play the world no.2 Novak Djokovic in the semifinal on Friday at 3:00 pm on ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM. They have never competed against each other till now in top tournaments.
Frances Tiafoe in 2023
Ranked no.10 (career-high), Tiafoe played his last match on the 5th of September when he lost to world no.47 Ben Shelton 6-2 3-6 7-6(7) 6-2 in the quarter of the U.S. Open (draw).
This year Frances has managed to achieve a 37-15 record. Frances clinched 3 titles in 2023 in Australia, Houston and Stuttgart.
Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe played each other only once. Their current record is 1-0 for Shelton. When they played, Ben Shelton won 6-2 3-6 7-6(7) 6-2 in the quarter in New York (U.S. Open) on the 5th of September 2023.
In the following video you can watch the highlights.
Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe |
| Embed from Getty Images |